Forget tall, dark and rich strangers who seduce comely young women and live happily ever after on Greek islands or Australian ranches. the new breed of Mills & Boon protagonists are shape shifters, show sharp fangs when they smile, transform into werewolves at night and are likely to engage in a bloody romance
Forget tall, dark and rich strangers who seduce comely young women and live happily ever after on Greek islands or Australian ranches. the new breed of Mills & Boon protagonists are shape shifters, show sharp fangs when they smile, transform into werewolves at night and are likely to engage in a bloody romance
The Mills & Boon Nocturne Series, the latest collection of romantic novels with a touch of the paranormal, is pitching itself as Where Twilight Ends, Nocturne begins. While some of the female protagonists might still remain sweet, innocent and mortal, the men pursuing them are vampires working with paranormal crime units and werewolves hanging out in packs on full moon nights.
"The Nocturne Series was first launched in the UK in 2007 following the success of books like the Twilight and Harry Potter series," says Manish Singh, Country Manager of Harlequin Mills & Boon India in a telephone interview from Delhi. "The Nocturne series was modelled on them keeping the essence of a Mills & Boon romance intact with desire, passion and romance being the buzzwords. But only this time the characters are paranormal," he adds.
Released in bookstores in August, the Nocturne series has been doing quite well globally according to Manish since the last five years and is also one of the top four Harlequin products. The series, launched in India this month, also is somewhat of a departure from traditional plotlines of the classic Mills & Boon novel.
While the romance is intact, passion and desire seem to have become violent, gory and in a fantasy space.u00a0 Manish feels that these books reflect the desires of the younger generation to escape and cross over traditional boundaries and would make good reading for those who do not want to live in a predictable world anymore. The Nocturne Series ought to offer the perfect escape.
Currently, the brand has introduced two titles for starters in bookstores: The Last Wolf Standing where a werewolf falls in love with a mortal and The Blood Secrets that deals with a vampire who has to pair with a human to solve a series of murders. Around 18 more titles are in the pipeline to be released every month.
The Nocturne Series published by Harlequin Mills & Boon is priced at R 125 each. Available at all leading bookstores.
Blood Secrets: A peek
Caine Valorian and his Otherworld Crime Unit crack all the unusual cases before any humans take notice. When a young woman is found ritualistically murdered, it's his team of professionals with paranormal gifts who must stop the nameless evil stalking the streets. But the toughest case of Caine's 200-year career gets even harder when a new member, Eve Grant, is assigned to their unit. Not only is she green and eager to impress, she's human.
As they sink deeper into the workings of the case, Caine's attraction to the alluring Eve is causing his blood to boil. And with war brewing between species, the all consuming passion between a human and a vampire won't be the only thing to spill on the city's mean streets.
ADVERTISEMENT
Blood Secrets by Virginia Kantra Synopsis courtesy: Harlequin Mills & Boon
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
